Campus-wide meeting in Collis culminates day of discussion
As the first day of community discussion on the steering committee's report drew to a close last night with an informal event at the Collis Center, members of the steering committee and administrators agreed that yesterday was a good jumping-off point for continued discussion and feedback. To many people on campus who were shocked by the original release of the Initiative last February, the atmosphere on campus yesterday was strikingly different from the last year. While the original release brings to mind angry music blasting from Greek houses around campus and a rally held outside of Psi Upsilon fraternity, yesterday was classified by quiet discussion. "The College prepared a lot better for this release -- it was a much more carefully managed process," Trustee Peter Fahey '68, who co-chaired the steering committee, said last night. Starting at 9 p.m., following the facilitated discussion groups, students, administrators and other community members flocked to the Collis Center -- drawn by free snacks and open discussion. As Dean of the College James Larimore told a group of students gathered around him last night, everyone in the community has an opportunity right now has a chance to create a better college. According to Larimore, who is heading the new task force that will collect Initiative feedback for the Trustees, the College is interested in student opinions and Winter term will be dedicated to the continued sharing of criticisms and ideas. Sexual Abuse Awareness Coordinator Susan Marine, who facilitated a discussion last night at Epsilon Kappa Theta sorority said students were open to the Initiative's possibilities.